An escape to Inis Meáin
by Caitrina Cody
All images in this article by Matthew Thompson and Andy Haslam; imagery © Inis Meáin Restaurant & Suites
On a remote patch of the Aran Islands, surrounded by sea and scored by hundreds of miles of dry stone walls, sits Inis Meáin Restaurant & Suites. Described as an 'elemental travel experience', the boutique Irish destination is designed to embrace the natural beauty of its environment; clad in hand-carved local limestone it seamlessly blends into the rugged terrain of Inis Meáin.
In January 2021 the restaurant was awarded a prestigious Michelin Green Star for its efforts to promote sustainability and environmental ethics. Founded in 2007 by chef and Inis Meáin native Ruairí de Blacam and design consultant Marie-Thérèse de Blacam, the eco-friendly restaurant is contemporary in style, with incredible views of Inis Meáin, Galway Bay and Connemara.
Restaurant ingredients are harvested from the island, with lobster and crab caught by local fishermen from traditional fishing boats called currachs. Vegetables, fruit and herbs are grown by the de Blacams using only island seaweed as fertilizer, while shoreline and island paths are foraged for wild food.
Marie-Thérèse de Blacam credits the Michelin award to the core ethos of Inis Meáin. "We are delighted that Michelin have created this category and to be awarded this accolade, as it completely aligns with what we have been doing since opening in 2007," she told ALHAUS magazine.
"In creating Inis Meáin Restaurant & Suites we have added to the island a place to dine and stay that is complementary and preserving of its special location in scale and quality. Much of the restaurant produce comes from the vegetable gardens around the restaurant, and the surrounding land and coast, including in recent times the addition of our own island farm."
Design is central to the de Blacams' approach to hospitality; the building itself was designed by de Blacam & Meagher, a firm dubbed “the godfathers of contemporary Irish architecture” by Architects Today. Attention to detail shows in the carefully considered interiors of both the restaurant and adjoining hotel, which hosts just 10 guests at a time.
Uncluttered spaces are softened by furnishings in natural fibres and tones, while a 10-meter long continuous window in each suite brings the outside in. Sleeping areas feature super king-sized Iroko beds and granite-tiled Philippe Starck bathrooms; living areas include cashmere Aran-patterned cushions and Iroko cabinets.
Guests have access to lots of fun toys while they stay, including custom-designed Cube bicycles, Steiner binoculars, ash walking sticks and fishing rods. There are no televisions on site; instead, guests are encouraged to explore the cliffs, beaches, rock formations, dry stone walls and wildflower fields that surround the small hotel.
As travel options remain limited, it's unique destinations like this that will represent a true escape from the routine of everyday life. Inis Meáin Restaurant & Suites' credentials as a sustainable, eco-friendly food location tie neatly into a growing demand for ethical travel options. As people take fewer holidays, they are choosing to invest in bespoke experiences with powerful stories — the stuff of long-lasting memories.